Characteristics of Tidal Beach and Shoreline Changes in Chonsu Bay, West Coast of Korea

Morphology, surface sediments, sedimentation rates and sea-cliff erosion have been monitored, for one year to investigate the shoreline changes and tidal beach characteristics in Cheonsu Bay along the west coast of Korea. The seacliff of the bay consists of intensively weathered sedimentary rocks and soft soil, showing an erosion range of -58.9-73.3cm/yr by a weak wave forcing. Active sea-cliff erosions are recognized by peculiar geomorphic features, including saw teeth-shaped coastline, gravels, relict weathered basement-rock and 'Island Stack' exposed on the high-tide beach surface. The beach sediments show low compositional maturity at the south and north headlands and gradually high towards the central part. This observation seems to be caused by the fact that beach sediments are to originate from the both headlands in the study area and then transported by long-shore current associated with a wave action.